2 Samuel 14:2-20

2So JoabH3097 sentH7971 to TekoaH8620 to bringH3947 a wiseH2450 womanH802 from thereH8033. He told herH559H413, “PleaseH4994 pretend to be a mournerH56; put onH3847H4994 clothesH899 for mourningH60 and do notH408 anoint yourselfH5480 with oilH8081. ActH1961 like a womanH802H2088 who has mournedH56 forH5921 the deadH4191 a longH7227 timeH3117. 3Then goH935 toH413 the kingH4428 and speakH1696 theseH2088 wordsH1697 to himH413.” And JoabH3097 putH7760 the wordsH1697 in her mouthH6310.

4

When the womanH802 from TekoaH8621 went toH413 the kingH4428, she fellH5307 facedownH5921H639H776 in homageH7812 and saidH559, “Help meH3467, O kingH4428!”

5“WhatH4100 troubles you?” the kingH4428 askedH559 her.

“IndeedH61,” she saidH559, “IH589 am a widowH802H490, for my husbandH376 is deadH4191. 6And your maidservantH8198 had twoH8147 sonsH1121 who were fightingH5327 in the fieldH7704 with noH369 one to separateH5337 themH996, and oneH259 struckH5221 the otherH259 and killedH4191 himH853. 7NowH2009 the wholeH3605 clanH4940 has risen upH6965 againstH5921 your maidservantH8198 and saidH559, ‘Hand overH5414 the one who struck downH5221 his brotherH251, that we may put him to deathH4191 for the lifeH5315 of the brotherH251 whomH834 he killedH2026. Then we will cut offH8045 the heirH3423 as wellH1571!’ So they would extinguishH3518 my one remainingH7604 emberH1513 by notH1115 preservingH7760 my husband’sH376 nameH8034 or posterityH7611 onH5921H6440 the earthH127.”

8“GoH1980 homeH1004,” the kingH4428 saidH559 toH413 the womanH802, “and IH589 will give ordersH6680 on your behalfH5921.”

9But the womanH802 of TekoaH8621 saidH559 toH413 the kingH4428, “My lordH113 the kingH4428, may any blame beH5771 on meH5921 and onH5921 my father’sH1 houseH1004, and may the kingH4428 and his throneH3678 be guiltlessH5355.”

10“If anyone speaksH1696 to youH413,” saidH559 the kingH4428, “bring himH935 to meH413, and he will notH3808 troubleH5060 you againH3254H5750!”

11“PleaseH4994,” she repliedH559, “may the kingH4428 invokeH2142 the LORDH3068 your GodH430 to prevent the avengerH1350 of bloodH1818 from increasingH7235 the devastationH7843, so that my sonH1121 may notH3808 be destroyedH8045!”

“As surely as the LORDH3068 livesH2416,” he vowedH559, “notH518 a hairH8185 of your son’s headH1121 will fallH5307 to the groundH776.”

12Then the womanH802 saidH559, “PleaseH4994, may your servantH8198 speakH1696 a wordH1697 toH413 my lordH113 the kingH4428?”

“SpeakH1696,” he repliedH559.

13The womanH802 askedH559, “WhyH4100 have you devisedH2803 a thing like thisH2063 againstH5921 the peopleH5971 of GodH430? When the kingH4428 saysH1696 thisH2088H1697, does he not convict himselfH818, sinceH4428 he has notH1115 brought backH7725 his own banishedH5080 son? 14ForH3588 we will surely dieH4191 and be like waterH4325 poured outH5064 on the groundH776, whichH834 cannotH3808 be recoveredH622. Yet GodH430 does notH3808 take awayH5375 a lifeH5315, but He devisesH2803 waysH4284 that the banished oneH5080 may notH1115 be cast outH5080 from HimH4480.

15Now thereforeH6258, I have comeH935 to presentH1696 thisH2088 matterH1697 toH413 my lordH113 the kingH4428 becauseH3588 the peopleH5971 have made me afraidH3372. Your servantH8198 thoughtH559, ‘I will speakH1696H4994 toH413 the kingH4428. PerhapsH194 he will grantH6213 the requestH1697 of his maidservantH519. 16ForH3588 the kingH4428 will hearH8085 and deliverH5337 his maidservantH519 from the handH3709 of the manH376 who would cut offH8045 bothH3162 meH853 andH853 my sonH1121 from God’sH430 inheritanceH5159.’

17And now your servantH8198H4994 saysH559, ‘MayH1961 the wordH1697 of my lordH113 the kingH4428 bring me restH4496, forH3588 my lordH113 the kingH4428 is able to discernH8085 goodH2896 and evilH7451, just like the angelH43971 of GodH430H3651. May the LORDH3068 your GodH430 beH1961 with youH5973.’”

18Then the kingH4428 saidH6030 toH413 the womanH802, “I amH595 going to askH7592 youH853 somethingH1697; do notH408H4994 concealH3582 it from meH4480!”

“Let my lordH113 the kingH4428 speakH1696H4994,” sheH802 repliedH559.

19So the kingH4428 askedH559, “Is the handH3027 of JoabH3097 behindH854 allH3605 thisH2063?”

The womanH802H559 answeredH6030, “As surely as youH5315 liveH2416, my lordH113 the kingH4428, no oneH518 can turnH786 to the rightH3231 or to the leftH8041 from anythingH3605 thatH834 my lordH113 the kingH4428 saysH1696. YesH3588, your servantH5650 JoabH3097 is the one whoH1931 gave me ordersH6680; heH1931 toldH7760H6310 your maidservantH8198 exactly what to sayH1697H428. 20JoabH3097 your servantH5650 has doneH6213 thisH2088 toH5668 bring aboutH5437 this changeH6440 of affairsH1697, but my lordH113 has wisdomH2450 like the wisdomH2451 of the angelH4397 of GodH430, to knowH3045 everythingH3605 thatH834 happens in the landH776.”